NFL

Cleveland Browns place Dylan Sampson on injured reserve following knee injury

  • Authored By: Sports Now
  • Updated Sep 16, 2026, 01:20 IST

The Cleveland Browns have moved running back Dylan Sampson to injured reserve after he sustained a knee injury during the team's season-opening loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Jaleel McLaughlin has been promoted to the roster.

Cleveland Browns place Dylan Sampson on injured reserve following knee injury

The Cleveland Browns have confirmed that running back Dylan Sampson has been placed on injured reserve after sustaining a knee injury during the team's opening game of the season. The announcement, made by the franchise on Tuesday, confirms that the rookie will be sidelined for at least the next four weeks of the campaign.

Sampson suffered the injury while performing kickoff return duties during Cleveland's defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars. As a result of the roster move, the 2025 fourth-round draft pick is ineligible to participate in team activities for the immediate future, with his earliest potential return date set for the Week 6 home fixture against the Baltimore Ravens.

Roster adjustments and backfield depth

In response to the vacancy created by Sampson's placement on injured reserve, the Browns have moved to bolster their backfield depth by signing Jaleel McLaughlin from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster. McLaughlin joins the squad as the team navigates the early stages of the season.

Prior to the injury, Sampson had been serving as the primary backup to starting running back Quinshon Judkins, while also playing a significant role in the team's special teams unit. Following his departure from the field during the loss to Jacksonville, second-year player Raheim Sanders stepped in to assume the additional responsibilities on both offense and special teams. Sanders currently remains the only other running back listed on the active 53-man roster alongside the starter.